embracing the stranger...

We are strangers in this world. Jesus came to us as a stranger. This concept of the stranger, the foreigner, the alien, the sojourner... it's all over scripture but through reading my text for class as well as some other circumstances these words have become more apparent to me.

"When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God." Leviticus 19:33-34

Do we remember that loving our neighbor also means to love the stranger? What does scripture mean for our views on immigration? An estimated 6.3 million illegal immigrants from Mexico live in the U.S. with an average of 485,ooo more arriving every year.... interesting article in the February 6th issue of Time Magazine. Some states are in support of legislation which promote benefits and civil rights for migrant workers while other states are cracking down on tighter policies against illegal immigrants. Is there a Christian response, a Scriptural view on this issue?

Echoing a sermon on Exodus 22: 21 - 27 that my pastor at Concord Baptist Church taught about a month ago, why is God concerned that we defend the sojourner, the widows & orphans, and the poor? Because God says "I am compassionate." Is the law of the Old Testament still applicable to us today? Cursed is he who distorts justice... We live under grace now; yet the God of the Old Testament is the same God of the New Testament. He is still a God of compassion. His character does not change. As his children, we are called to exeplify his character. Maybe we can all ask God to help us see those around us who are in need in a way that we have never seen them before. Perhaps there is a language barrier, but we may ask him to help us to hear them in a way we have never heard the 'stranger' before. And in doing so, may we not only hear but actually listen. May we not only speak, but learn to communicate.